Responsible Tourism

Sailing & Conservation trip in the Aegean Sea

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Starting from the capital of the Cyclades, Syros, and ending after one week at the volcanic island of Milos, home of the Milos Viper, the most endangered species in Europe. 200 more miles for Tahita to add on her log book.
Dr. Panayiots Pafilis will introduce you to the mysteries of the Aegean Sea. Having participated in many researches in the area, Panayiotis is the ideal person to open for you the mystic doors to the wildlife of the Aegean, ''the Archipelago of species''.

Day 1. We start our journey from the historical port of Syros, Ermoupoli. The day will be devoted to getting to know each other, a briefing on the Aegean ecosystem and settling down on the boat. You will have plenty of time to walk around the picturesque old town of Ano Syros.

Day 2. Sailing and dolphin spotting is on the agenda today. We will follow the stream from north to south towards Paros island. Plenty of time for dolphin spotting with the aid of our hydrophone and for watching sea birds like gulls (Larus genei, L. audouinii, L. cacchinans) and cormorants (Phalacrocorax cargo) that hang around in these waters. By late noon we will reach the small fishing port of Piso Livadi, where you can taste the local fish delicacies of Antonis.

Day 3. Our prow is pointing to the south, to the very heart of the Aegean, the ''small Cyclades'' complex. Some 50 islands, islets and rocks, giving the impression of an ''empty'' habitat to the unsuspected eye, are hiding an impressive variety of life. The next station of our "project" will be the unspoilt fishing port of Iraklia.

The typical vegetation of the ecosystems here is phrygana. You will be surprised to discover that even a tiny rocky islet may be the home to tens of invertebrate species and even to many vertebrates including birds [chukar (Alektoris chukar) and shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)] and reptiles [gecko (Cyrtopodion kotsyii), Aegean rock lizard (Podarcis erhardii), sand boa (Eryx jaculus)].

Using some simple methods and techniques of field biology we will try to estimate the magnificent biodiversity during our stay in the area.

Day 4. Today's route is to the east. The sailing area we will cover is a well-known passage for dolphins. Despotiko, another small island, favourite meeting point for sailors in the Aegean, is where we'll end our small experiment. We will compare and analyse our results and photos, breaking the work with plunges in the crystal clear waters of the bay.

At night you will be a witness to a unique spectacle: the glowing sea. Thousands of minuscule planktonic crustaceans produce light thanks to the phenomenon of bioluminescence.

Day 5/6. We'll have an early start and enjoy a day sailing towards the unspoilt island of Kimolos. The area north of Kimolos and the neighboring uninhabited island of Polyegos harbor one of the most critically endangered marine mammal species in Europe, the Mediterranean Seal Monachus monachus.

MOm, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, a Greek NGO, has been working for the protection of Monachus monachus since 1998, through field research, conservation and public awareness actions. After years of research and lobbying, MOm aspires to see Kimolos amongst the protected marine areas of Greece, as the second largest european population of the Mediterranean monk seal lives and breeds in the Kimolos-Polyegos island complex.

We will visit MOm's Info Kiosk, where you will hear the latest news concerning their work. Though the Mediterranean monk seal is not exactly sociable, who knows... We may be lucky!
Day 7. One of the first islands to emerge from the sea, Milos has to present a quite unique fauna. Milos viper Macrovipera hanschweizeri is certainly the most interesting and rare animal in Europe. Its population is estimated to be less than 4,000 individuals and the Greek Law protects it with a special Presidential Degree. Milos wall lizard Podarcis milensis, the extremely rare grass snake Natrix natrix schweizeri and Milos green lizard Lacerta trilineata schweizeri are the three more endemic species of the Milos group.
Milos is the intermediate station for many migratory birds that use the Aegean corridor to reach Africa. Our visit point will be the small subsaline lake of Chivadolimni (lake of shells in Greek). Trekking time! All the aforementioned animals, plus the stripe-neck terrapin Mauremys caspica, could be found here, in this small oasis of water and vegetation in the midst of the general Cyclades aridness.

That will be the end of our "biodiversity project". Please note that all the photographs and specimen that you may collect during the week will be offered to scientists to assist them in their data collection and researches.

We're as flexible as the weather!

The above itinerary is an example of what you can experience in our Wild Tale trips in the Aegean Sea. We don't follow the same route every week and every itinerary may slightly change due to the weather and other factors beyond our control. Remember that we cannot go against the weather! We will do our best. Everything else is KISMET!

 

Caring for the environment

By having everyone involved in our organisation promoting and adhering to sustainable travel principles and encouraging our guests to embrace our sustainable travel principles:
By allowing space in our sailing boats for people to throw plastic bottles and other items which we take back to Athens for recycling
By using biodegradable cleaning products and avoiding at all times the dumping of chemicals or non-natural products into the sea
By ensuring that all guests are informed upon arrival that waste should never be thrown into the sea and recyclying of plastic bottles should be done in the designated place
By briefing our guests not to collect any corals or shells from the sea or beach. They are encouraged though to help us clean any garbage that they see inside the water or on the beach
By briefing our guests upon arrival on the necessity of cutting down on their use of water and electricity. There is a serious problem with water in the Greek islands and we recommend guests to use water and electricity only when and to the level that is necessary
By avoiding wasting paper in the office and using the internet as the main form of communication.
Wild Tales: Sailing & Conservation trips
By organising and designing wildlife sailing trips that increase awareness and get people involved in marine conservation.
By organising wildlife tours which combine sailing and discovering endemic species. Under the guidance of our experienced biologist, people are introduced to tens of endemic species, both from the animal and plant kingdoms which exist only in this small corner of the globe. Guests leave with a different approach towards wildlife and aware of the dangers they face and how to minimise them.
By organising visits at the two national marine parks in Greece, in Zakynthos and Alonisos, where the two most important NGOs for the protection of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta and the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus are based. Our guests are briefed on their work and how they can get involved and support them.
By watching and monitoring dolphins & other cetaceans by far away without disturbing them, adhering to the ACCOBAMS guidelines for commercial cetacean-watching activities in the Mediterranean Sea.

Supporting the local community

The traditional ways that islanders used to support themselves have become obsolete due to mass tourism and the tendency of the youth to move to large cities. Our approach aims to keep these old ways from fading out and for our guests to get introduced to the "real" island lifestyle.
By encouraging our guests to participate in the local way of life and not just be a distant observer. In our Wild Tales, people are welcome to give a helping hand to locals in their daily activities, for example, picking olives from trees or taking part in the preparation of local products.

Special projects

When our sailing boat is not chartered or being maintained, we offer the boat to scientists and organisations for their research and other environmental projects. We have already provided support to a team of biologists from the Athens University and a worker of the British Natural History Museum.
We are planning to run a series of events targeted towards the children of the remote islands of the Aegean Sea with the aim of educating and increasing awareness on environmental and conservation issues. The first one took place in the island of Iraklia in the Small Cyclades in October 2007.

 

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